Watch The Exorcism of Emily Rose

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a 2005 horror movie that tells the story of a young girl named Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) who becomes possessed by demons. The film is based on a true story of Anneliese Michel, a German girl who died during an exorcism in the 1970s. The film takes place mostly in a courtroom where Father Richard Moore (Tom Wilkinson), the priest who performed the exorcism, is charged with negligent homicide after Emily dies during the procedure. The trial centers around the debate of science vs. religion as Father Moore defends his actions, claiming that Emily was possessed by demons, while the prosecutor (Laura Linney) argues that Emily died as a result of Father Moore's neglect and refusal to seek medical help for her mental illness.

To tell the story of Emily, the film uses flashbacks to show her struggles with the possession, including disturbing scenes of her contorted body, speaking in tongues and having violent convulsions. Emily's parents play a crucial role in the story as they confront the possibility of losing their daughter, turning to their religion for answers and ultimately demanding an exorcism. The film also explores the relationship between Father Moore and Emily, as he becomes increasingly convinced of the demonic possession and tries to help her by performing the controversial exorcism.

As the trial progresses, the film takes on a philosophical tone, addressing the question of whether or not demonic possession exists and how society should deal with supernatural beliefs. While the prosecutor presents scientific evidence that Emily's symptoms could be attributed to an undiagnosed medical condition, the defense argues that there are spiritual and supernatural forces at play. The film does a good job of keeping the audience engaged with this ongoing debate, and creates an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty.

Throughout the film, the performance of Jennifer Carpenter as Emily Rose is outstanding. She brings a sense of vulnerability and fear to the role of a girl who is suffering from a terrifying experience. The supporting cast of Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, and Shohreh Aghdashloo also deliver strong performances, with Linney successfully portraying a skeptical, rational lawyer who is eventually forced to confront her own beliefs about the supernatural.

One of the key strengths of The Exorcism of Emily Rose is its use of sound and visual effects to create a creepy and unsettling atmosphere. The film's score, composed by Christopher Young, employs eerie strings and choral voices to amplify the sense of dread, while the visual effects team uses jarring camera movements and lighting to heighten the tension in the possession scenes.

In conclusion, The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a well-crafted horror movie that will appeal to fans of the genre. It offers an interesting twist on the exorcism theme by framing the story within the context of a courtroom drama, and exploring the intersection of science, religion, and the supernatural. This film is a must-watch for anyone interested in the paranormal or spiritual horror.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose is a 2005 crime movie with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 46.